The wife of former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering.Leslie Johnson was arrested last November after prosecutors said she flushed an illicit $100,000 check down the toilet and stashed nearly $80,000 in cash in her undergarments.In federal court Thursday, she admitted that she destroyed evidence and claimed she made a mistake. Her husband was also arrested in what prosecutors called a sweeping corruption scheme."There is nothing I can do or say that would make this day less difficult," she said Thursday.She is currently a Prince George's County Council member and hasn't said if she will resign."I made a mistake for which I accepted responsibility for my conduct," she said. "I only ask not to be judged by this mistake, but by the countless days I have devoted to serving our community and doing good deeds."During Thursday's court hearing, Johnson admitted flushing the check down the toilet and putting money in her underwear.Jack Johnson, 62, pleaded guilty last month to shaking down developers for more than $400,000 in cash and other favors in exchange for doing business with the county."Jack and Leslie Johnson are guilty of disgraceful abuse of the trust placed in them," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.Prosecutors said evidence showed that Leslie Johnson clearly had a role and responsibility. She suggested flushing the check and asked about the money stored in her home. That could be a relevant factor at sentencing, according to the I-Team's Barry Simms."The fact that she flushed the check down the toilet and tried to escape might be enough to sentence her to 12 months," Rosenstein said. "On top of that, she was in a position of authority, has been elected. There is evidence she knew about the broader scheme."Leslie Johnson was elected to the council before her arrest and sworn in afterward.

GREENBELT, Md. —

The wife of former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering.

Leslie Johnson was arrested last November after prosecutors said she flushed an illicit $100,000 check down the toilet and stashed nearly $80,000 in cash in her undergarments.

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In federal court Thursday, she admitted that she destroyed evidence and claimed she made a mistake. Her husband was also arrested in what prosecutors called a sweeping corruption scheme.

"There is nothing I can do or say that would make this day less difficult," she said Thursday.

She is currently a Prince George's County Council member and hasn't said if she will resign.

"I made a mistake for which I accepted responsibility for my conduct," she said. "I only ask not to be judged by this mistake, but by the countless days I have devoted to serving our community and doing good deeds."

During Thursday's court hearing, Johnson admitted flushing the check down the toilet and putting money in her underwear.

Jack Johnson, 62, pleaded guilty last month to shaking down developers for more than $400,000 in cash and other favors in exchange for doing business with the county.

"Jack and Leslie Johnson are guilty of disgraceful abuse of the trust placed in them," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

Prosecutors said evidence showed that Leslie Johnson clearly had a role and responsibility. She suggested flushing the check and asked about the money stored in her home. That could be a relevant factor at sentencing, according to the I-Team's Barry Simms.

"The fact that she flushed the check down the toilet and tried to escape might be enough to sentence her to 12 months," Rosenstein said. "On top of that, she was in a position of authority, has been elected. There is evidence she knew about the broader scheme."

Leslie Johnson was elected to the council before her arrest and sworn in afterward.